1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?” The setting of the play seems to take place in the late 20th early 21st century, in Manhattan New York. The characters are Val, a middle-aged black cop, William, a white criminal, Parker, Val’s police chief, Alea, Val’s wife, and Charlie. The dramatic situation that is happening at the opening of the play is that Val has cornered a criminal and is attempting to place him under custody.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is. The intrusion that occurs is when Val shoots the criminal after the convict calls him a racial slur
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? The social milieu that the play finds itself in very much so has racial segregation. The society that the characters find themselves in have racial demarcations and divides akin to the ones in this society, however the scenario typical of our society is flipped in the play, in that in our society is is much more publicized and commonplace to locate a story in which a white cop shoots an unarmed black male.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Will Val tell the truth? Will justice be served? In what way?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters. Val wants to ultimately live a stress-free life with his career and his wife. The investigation and the murder that took place derails this as he must face an ethical and moral dilemma. It is very much so me against myself, as well as me vs society. Society lends hand to Val’s dilemma for mores and values instilled in the fabric society and ultimately Val cause his ethical quandary. He knows the truth, which is that he shot an unarmed man in moment of passion. If he tells the truth he is prosecuted and gets no chance at living the life he wants to live. If he lies, his remorse comes into play as his conscience is no longer clean. He would have to live knowing he murdered someone in cold blood, and that would effectively destroy his quality of life.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second. In my opinion the most theatrical moment was the beginning and the ends of the play. In the beginning the initial action of Val killing the white man determines the course for the rest of the story and establishes the conflict. Moreover, the finale of the play when Val is testifying and decides whether he will tell the truth or not is also theatrical, while with less movement and action taking place. The conflict of whether or not he will tell the truth is central to the play and drives the plot. The finale when we see what Val has decided is theatrical as it reveals much about his values, priorities, and character.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) An image that is notable is Val cuffing the dead man after he has shot him in order to cover his tracks, It is telling of the story and reveals the meaning of the norion split second for that was all it took for Val to end someone's life and ultimately change the both of their lives forever. Another notable image is the deadlock that he places on the door. It showcases a bit of Val’s character as it illustrates the level of protection and the measures that he will take to protect his family Another notable image would be the dagger that Val places on Will. It symbolizes the fault and blame for the situation, as he places it onto Will. Will is now forever a criminal and one deserving of his death in society’s eyes.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second. Justice, Ethics, Morality, Race, Honor, Livelihood, Family, Community
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second? Family is what provides a conflict in the play. VAl knows that if he tells the truth that he will be barred from his family forever, and it drives his decision to ultimately lie on the stand.
The setting of the play seems to take place in the late 20th early 21st century, in Manhattan New York. The characters are Val, a middle-aged black cop, William, a white criminal, Parker, Val’s police chief, Alea, Val’s wife, and Charlie. The dramatic situation that is happening at the opening of the play is that Val has cornered a criminal and is attempting to place him under custody.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrusion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
The intrusion that occurs is when Val shoots the criminal after the convict calls him a racial slur
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The social milieu that the play finds itself in very much so has racial segregation. The society that the characters find themselves in have racial demarcations and divides akin to the ones in this society, however the scenario typical of our society is flipped in the play, in that in our society is is much more publicized and commonplace to locate a story in which a white cop shoots an unarmed black male.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val tell the truth?
Will justice be served? In what way?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
Val wants to ultimately live a stress-free life with his career and his wife. The investigation and the murder that took place derails this as he must face an ethical and moral dilemma. It is very much so me against myself, as well as me vs society. Society lends hand to Val’s dilemma for mores and values instilled in the fabric society and ultimately Val cause his ethical quandary. He knows the truth, which is that he shot an unarmed man in moment of passion. If he tells the truth he is prosecuted and gets no chance at living the life he wants to live. If he lies, his remorse comes into play as his conscience is no longer clean. He would have to live knowing he murdered someone in cold blood, and that would effectively destroy his quality of life.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
In my opinion the most theatrical moment was the beginning and the ends of the play. In the beginning the initial action of Val killing the white man determines the course for the rest of the story and establishes the conflict. Moreover, the finale of the play when Val is testifying and decides whether he will tell the truth or not is also theatrical, while with less movement and action taking place. The conflict of whether or not he will tell the truth is central to the play and drives the plot. The finale when we see what Val has decided is theatrical as it reveals much about his values, priorities, and character.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
An image that is notable is Val cuffing the dead man after he has shot him in order to cover his tracks, It is telling of the story and reveals the meaning of the norion split second for that was all it took for Val to end someone's life and ultimately change the both of their lives forever.
Another notable image is the deadlock that he places on the door. It showcases a bit of Val’s character as it illustrates the level of protection and the measures that he will take to protect his family
Another notable image would be the dagger that Val places on Will. It symbolizes the fault and blame for the situation, as he places it onto Will. Will is now forever a criminal and one deserving of his death in society’s eyes.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Justice, Ethics, Morality, Race, Honor, Livelihood, Family, Community
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
Family is what provides a conflict in the play. VAl knows that if he tells the truth that he will be barred from his family forever, and it drives his decision to ultimately lie on the stand.